Book description from Book Bub:
“Hard times come for all in life, with no real explanation. When we walk through suffering, it has the potential to devastate and destroy, or to be the gateway to gratitude and joy.
Elisabeth Elliot was no stranger to suffering. Her first husband, Jim, was murdered by the Waoroni people in Ecuador moments after he arrived in hopes of sharing the gospel. Her second husband was lost to cancer. Yet, it was in her deepest suffering that she learned the deepest lessons about God.
Why doesn’t God do something about suffering? He has, He did, He is, and He will.
Suffering and love are inexplicably linked, as God’s love for His people is evidenced in His sending Jesus to carry our sins, griefs, and sufferings on the cross, sacrificially taking what was not His on Himself so that we would not be required to carry it. He has walked the ultimate path of suffering, and He has won victory on our behalf.
This truth led Elisabeth to say, “Whatever is in the cup that God is offering to me, whether it be pain and sorrow and suffering and grief along with the many more joys, I’m willing to take it because I trust Him.”
Because suffering is never for nothing.”
My review:
The chapters of this book are transcribed from a series of teaching sessions that Elizabeth Elliot did many years ago. These sessions had never been published before this book. I am very grateful that they have now been published so that all of us have access to this wonderful teaching. It’s almost as if I could hear the author’s voice as I read the pages.
This is how I ended up reading this book: As if I were there while Mrs. Elliot was teaching and I was taking notes in the class. I highlighted so many thoughts on these pages. This is a warm, compassionate message from one who went through much suffering of her own. She continually takes us back to the throne of God and His Word on every page. Her message is one of hope in sorrow and comfort in that our “suffering is never for nothing”. I know I’ll be going back to this book time and again through the years. She is in heaven praising the Savior now, and I’m ever so grateful for her wit and wisdom conveyed to us in this book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.